Fletcher Whitfield McNeil, age 100, died on September 8, 2025.

She was born September 3, 1925, in Biltmore, NC to Fletcher Copeland McNeil and Clarence Franklin McNeil. She married Craven Burris Caudle on October 19, 1946, in Lenoir, NC.

Fletcher graduated from Lenoir High School in 1943, and completed a two-year business course at Queens College in Charlotte, NC, graduating in 1945. She worked as a secretary in the Carroll-Grayson Chamber of Commerce and then for Galax High School, where she was soon promoted to Clerk of City School Board, with bookkeeping and secretarial responsibilities. After moving to Clemmons, NC in 1967 she worked at Clemmons First Baptist Church, at the Gravely tractor factory, and as a desk clerk at the Manor House inn and motel in Tanglewood Park.

In retirement, Fletcher returned to live in her hometown of Lenoir, where she was active in the Presbyterian church choir. She enjoyed playing bridge, reading books and newspapers, visiting the mountains, and studying her Bible lessons. She sewed clothes for her grandchildren, and then formed a home-based business in which she made custom dresses for little girls. Subsequently she fell in love with quilting, and it became a full-time avocation. For decades she made exhibition-quality quilts, winning numerous regional awards and exhibiting in galleries including the Billings Farm Barn Quilt Exhibition and the Caldwell Arts Council. Her quilts are treasured works of art displayed in the homes of her entire family and many of her friends.

Fletcher moved to the Charlotte area in 2016 to be closer to her family. No longer able to maintain a quilt studio, she began painting with watercolors and found yet another talent to enjoy.

Fletcher is survived by her children Neil Caudle (Mary Jane Nirdlinger) of Pittsboro and Patricia Hunter, of Matthews; grandchildren, Caitlin Caudle of Charlotte; David Caudle (Jessica) of Traverse City, MI; Retta Hunter (Adams) of Charlotte; and Mac Hunter (Nikki) of Charlotte; step grandchildren Win and Talia Felgenhauer; and 8 great-grandchildren Evelyn, Hunter, Teagan, Deacon, Haven, Savayah, Holden and Cece, and by her nephew Chuck Carson (Angelica). She was preceded in death by her sister, Nancy Gwyn.

A graveside service will be held on Saturday, November 8, 2025 at 11:00 A.M. at Belleview Cemetery of Lenoir, NC.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Caldwell Arts Council in Lenoir.

online condolences may be left at www.greer-mcelveenfuneralhome.com

Greer-McElveen Funeral Home and Crematory is assisting the McNeil family.